Charlie Parker is the father of bebop!  Along with Dizzy Gillespie and Thelonious Monk, his ideas took  jazz in a whole new direction.  The new harmonies and rhythms that were revolutionary in the 1940s are a standard part of jazz today.  Learn more about Bird, his life and music tonight on the 9 O'clock Special, jazz awakes at 8.  

  Sax player Wayne Shorter celebrates a birthday this week.  He started with Art Blakey, and played and composed for Miles Davis before starting his own bands, including the fusion band  Weather Report in the 70s. Hear this imaginative improvisor work the sax tonight on the 9 O'clock Special.  Jazz awakes at 8.

African guitarist Lionel Lueke, has added his unique flavor to the recordings of Herbie Hancock, Terence Blanchard and Wayne Shorter.  His new release incorporates African clicks and jazz fusion licks.  Hear it tonight on the 9 O'clock Special along with the music of Stevie Wonder from Yoron Israel's new CD, High Standards, and a tribute to Les Paul from Lou Pallo.  Jazz awakes at 8!

  Bill Basie was a pianist who fell in love with jazz.  His determination and talent took him and his band around the world and had a groove like no other band.   Hear the best of Basie tonight on the 9 O'clock special on KJZZ.  Jazz awakes at 8.

  Hear the best of trumpeter and flugelhorn player Art Farmer, from Tonk to Killer Joe, it's an amazing career.

   Canadian pianist and composer Oscar Peterson set the standard for technique at the piano, and inspired generations of players to discover how he did it.  Oscar took music by storm with speed and drama and although he could play faster than anyone, he knew when to infuse the sound with some slow blues.   Tonight hear one of the greatest pianists of all time, Oscar Peterson on the 9 O'clock Special.

Chick Corea and Gary Burton have been recording duets for over 40 years.  Their lates release, Hot House, takes some familiar tunes to new levels and may take them to another Grammy.  Hear this and the latest Cole Porter tribute from Cheryl Bentene of the Manhattan Transfer tonight on the 9 O'clock  new release special on K-Jazz.

  Bill Evans is one of the most copied and studied pianists in jazz.  His development of harmonic structure infused jazz with a classical flavor and added dimensions.  Bill Evans had a profound influence on Miles Davis and his Kind of Blue release.  Tonight hear Bill Evans with Miles, Stan Getz and leading his own trios tonight on the 9 O'clock Special.  Jazz awakes at 8!

With 40 years of jazz duets, Chick Corea and Gary Burton make a perfect musical couple and they have a new CD, Hot House, with familiar songs they both enjoy like Eleanor Rigby.  And Cheryl Bentyne has recovered from cancer with the music of Cole Porter, she says it helped her heal, so her new release is all Cole Porter, with the late James Moody on a couple of tunes.  You'll hear guitar trios and a Chet Baker tribute from Luciana Souza tonight on the New Release 9 O'clock Special on K-jazz.  Jazz awakes at 8. 

  Blind British pianist, George Shearing wrote over 300 songs, and created his own unique sound with classical harmony and a brilliant knowledge of the piano. He was Marian McPartland's favorite guest and became an American jazz legend.  Hear Shearing favorites Lullaby of Birdland and September in the Rain tonight on the 9 O'clock Special. Jazz awakes tonight at 8!